espadrille
C1neutral to semi-formal; common in fashion/travel contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A casual, flat shoe, typically made with a canvas or cotton fabric upper and a flexible sole of rope or rubber.
A summer shoe, originally from the Pyrenees region, characterized by its woven rope or jute sole and fabric upper, often laced around the ankle. Modern variations include wedge heels and rubber soles.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term refers specifically to the shoe's construction (especially the traditional rope sole). It is a hyponym of 'sandal' or 'summer shoe'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is used identically in both varieties to refer to the same type of shoe.
Connotations
Connotes a summery, relaxed, often European or beachside style in both regions.
Frequency
Slightly more common in UK English due to closer cultural ties to mainland Europe, but well-understood in US fashion/travel writing.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to wear espadrilles with [a sundress/trousers]to slip on/take off one's espadrillesespadrilles made of [canvas/cotton]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly associated. The word is primarily a concrete noun.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in retail/fashion industry contexts (e.g., 'Our summer line features new espadrille designs').
Academic
Rare, except in historical/cultural studies discussing footwear or Pyrenean culture.
Everyday
Common when discussing summer wear, holidays, or casual fashion (e.g., 'I need to buy some new espadrilles for the beach').
Technical
Used in fashion design, manufacturing, and retail to specify a shoe type.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- No standard verb form.
American English
- No standard verb form.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverb form.
American English
- No standard adverb form.
adjective
British English
- The espadrille style is perfect for a seaside holiday.
American English
- She loved the espadrille look for its comfort and ease.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I wear my espadrilles in the summer.
- She bought a pair of blue espadrilles for her holiday in Spain.
- Unlike flip-flops, espadrilles offer more support while still being ideal for warm weather.
- The designer's collection reimagined the traditional espadrille, incorporating intricate embroidery and a stacked rope wedge.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a SPEEDY DRILL (sounds like 'espadrille') making holes in a rope sole to lace up the canvas shoe.
Conceptual Metaphor
SUMMER IS ESPADRILLES (The shoe is a metonym for summer leisure and warm-weather travel).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводите как 'сандалия' (sandal) или 'босоножка' (open shoe) без уточнения, так как это конкретный тип обуви с характерной плетёной подошвой.
- Избегайте кальки 'эспадрилья', в русском языке устоявшийся термин — 'эспадрильи'.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling: 'espadrill', 'espadrile', 'espadrila'.
- Mispronunciation: stressing the first syllable too heavily in British English (/ˈɛspədrɪl/).
- Using it to refer to any flat casual shoe, losing the specific reference to the rope/jute sole.
Practice
Quiz
What is the most defining traditional feature of an espadrille?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Traditionally, no. The rope/jute sole is not waterproof and can be damaged. Modern versions with rubber soles are more resilient.
No, while popular in women's fashion, traditional espadrilles are unisex and commonly worn by men in regions like Spain and France.
It comes from the French 'espadrille', derived from Occitan 'espardilho', which in turn comes from 'espart', referring to esparto grass, a material historically used for ropes.
Spot clean with a mild soap and damp cloth. Avoid fully submerging them in water, as it can weaken the glue and damage the rope sole.